Shloka 43

Sapindīkaraṇa: Timing, Eligibility, Gotra Rules, and Yearlong Śrāddha

with Vṛṣotsarga and Ghaṭa-dāna

Devanagari script

एकचित्यां समारूढौ दम्पती निधनं गतौ / एकपाकं प्रकुर्वीत पिण्डान्दद्यात्पृथक्पृथक्

Transliteration

ekacityāṃ samārūḍhau dampatī nidhanaṃ gatau / ekapākaṃ prakurvīta piṇḍāndadyātpṛthakpṛthak

Translation

Wenn Mann und Frau gestorben sind und auf denselben Scheiterhaufen gelegt wurden, soll man eine einzige gekochte Opfergabe bereiten (ekapāka), doch die piṇḍas sind jedem von ihnen getrennt darzureichen.

Word by Word

• एक-चित्याम्: on one funeral pyre
• एक-चित्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• समारूढौ: having mounted/ascended
• समारूढौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु) → समारूढ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दम्पती)

• दम्पती: the couple
• दम्पती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• निधनम्: death; end
• निधनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गतौ: gone (to)
• गतौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दम्पती)

• एक-पाकम्: a single cooking/one common preparation
• एक-पाकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform/prepare
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र

• पिण्डान्: piṇḍa offerings
• पिण्डान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पृथक्-पृथक्: separately (each)
• पृथक्-पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय) + पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-युग्म; पुनरुक्त क्रियाविशेषण (reduplicated adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During śrāddha following same-day/same-pyre cremation

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In same-pyre cases, prepare one common cooked offering (ekapāka) but give piṇḍas separately to each deceased spouse—economy without loss of ritual differentiation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma accommodates circumstance (deśa-kāla) while preserving essential distinctions (bheda) required for rite efficacy.

Application: When resources or timing necessitate a single cooking, maintain separate piṇḍa portions and separate recipient designation in sankalpa and offering sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.26.41-42 (separate śrāddha; no doṣa with separate piṇḍa)

Characters & Entities

• Pitris
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of separate piṇḍa offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even if the couple shares one pyre and one cooked preparation is made, the piṇḍas must be offered separately, affirming distinct preta-identity and individualized ritual entitlement.

How does this verse explain proper procedure when both spouses die together?

It gives a practical rule: perform one cooking (ekapāka) for efficiency/ritual unity, but maintain separate piṇḍa-dāna so each departed person receives their own prescribed offering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When conducting antyeṣṭi or śrāddha in such a case, families may prepare one common batch of offering food, yet should clearly dedicate and present distinct piṇḍas in each person’s name with separate intention (saṅkalpa).